Loving: Her’s was a short life, but one of loving. Born May 10, 2012, she was 11 years old. She loved her family, church, her friends, and was dearly loved back.

Adaptable and Active: Born in Newport News, Virginia, she adjusted well and made friends easily in a new place, a different culture here in Arkansas.

Interested: She explored more things in her just over a decade of life than the typical adult. And she was doted over and encouraged in her pursuits by family.

Living life. Life for Laila was full with her studies, her friends, her favorite foods, salmon, rice and turkey bites; with cheerleading, and competition dance, especially jazz.

Athletic and Adventurous. She loved sports, especially basketball, archery, volleyball, and trap/skeet shooting. She never wanted to just be on the team; she worked to excel.

Sweet. Looking beyond the tragedy, sweet memories will linger with her parents Tourke and Chandra McCulley Hooker, sister Jada, and her maternal great-grandmother Mozetta Pegues.

Paternal grandparents Samuel and Beverly Hooker; uncles Ernest and Marlon Hooker; cousin Nyla Hooker and her daughter Ava. She was preceded in death by her great-grandmother Lela Marrien Hooker.

Maternal grandparents Hoyle and Gwen McCulley; aunt Wendy McCulley; uncle Darryl McCulley; great uncles Herbert Rogers and Clarence Christian; and cousins Aubrey (Keva) Edwards, Dion Pegues, Kiara and Zyon McCulley. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Gerdine Pegues McCulley White, Theodoras White, and cousin Adrian Pegues.

The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…

Jeremiah 1:4-5

In lieu of flowers, the family of Laila Hooker requests that donations be made to the Laila Hooker Memorial Scholarship.

Donations can be sent to:

Laila Hooker Memorial Scholarship c/o Columbia Christian School; 250 Warnock Springs RD. Magnolia, AR 71753

PHONE: 870.234.2831

Your generosity will help to ensure that Laila’s Legacy of kindness and compassion will live on.